Monday, November 1, 2010

What are you Grateful for?

To post to our Community Gratitude List..... 
scroll down to the end of this post and 
look for the comments section. 
Thank you!


Photo of the month:
Malibu, May 2010
Quote of the month:
Both abundance and lack exist 
simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. 
It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend... 
When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives 
but are grateful for the abundance that's present
/love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature 
and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure/ 
the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience 
Heaven on earth.
- Sarah Ban Breathnach


What Are You Grateful For?
It seems to feel like we are skipping over Thanksgiving a bit and rushing on to Christmas.  I hear it said every year... that the holidays seem to start earlier and earlier each year.  I saw holiday things out at Target even before Halloween.  I have no judgement about it being either a "good" thing or a "bad" thing.  I do, however, not want to miss the opportunity to focus on gratitude.


This year, I am going to devote an entire month to just that.  Since November is Thanksgiving, it seems the perfect time to also highlight gratitude. Gratitude is a powerful catalysts to a joyful life! It is important to take the time to reflect on the wonderful things that are present in your life.


I invite you to pause for a moment...yes, right now and just think about something you are grateful for. Go ahead, take a moment.... I'll wait.  If things are going well for you right now, this will be simple.  If you feel life has been a bit challenging lately, it may be a bit more challenging to think of something, but even so, there are still many things to be grateful for.  In fact, placing your attention on those things may help to lighten the load you may feel in other areas of your life as the quote above seems to imply.


For some examples - is the sun out where you are? Did someone hold a door for you today?  Was the clerk at the store polite to you?  Are you breathing?  Do you have clothing to keep you warm?  Enough food to eat?  Have you ever really noticed the abundance and variety of foods that are available to us in the grocery store?  Take a moment in the produce department next trip to the store and just observe what is there.  It is truly amazing!  For my Floridian readers, if this happens to be in a Publix Supermarket, you can be doubly grateful!  (No they don't pay me to say that!)


Do you have your one thing you are grateful for?  Concentrate on it for just a moment.


Notice how you feel when you focus on something you are grateful for. Bring your attention to your heart and recognize the feeling of love and joy that fills your heart. Doesn't it feel GREAT! Savor that feeling and know that you have the ability to take yourself there any time you choose!


In the evenings I often have my boys list three things they are grateful for from that day. I encourage them to be specific about something that happened recently. I wanted to take a minute to list a few specific things that I am grateful for and then invite you to do the same.


Last year, this idea evolved into a Community Gratitude list on the blog.  What I've done this year is pull that post forward, edit it a bit... and will make the same suggestion as last year, to take a minute and add to the list.  All you have to do is click the comments button below.  You may add to the list with or without using your name.  It is simple!  You can also choose to have follow up comments e-mailed to you, which in this case I would suggest.  I believe it can be cumulative, somewhat synergistic, and we can all benefit from the comments and gratitude of others.  For those of you who posted last year, it  may be interesting to go back and look at the list, possibly add a few new things this year.


I'd like all of us to experience what gratitude can do in your life! Also, how placing your awareness on gratitude increases it and just how good it can make you feel!


The photo of the month is from a hike in a canyon during a trip I took earlier this year to Malibu, CA.  A trip I am very grateful to have experienced... where I experienced new places and things, ate healthy food, visited with a lifelong friend.. and made new friends!  


Thank you to all of you for your continued support of my blogging endeavor! For that I am also supremely grateful!


To read last month's post on your True Colors.... click here.


Until next month,
Keep it simple!
Penelope

19 comments:

Penelope said...

I am grateful for....

1 - my family and my boys!

2 - the continued support I receive from my friends and family on my blogging endeavor!

3 - for excellent schools!

4 - for clean water and an abundance of food (take notice next time you are in the grocery store... it truly is amazing!)

5 - on my most centered days, I am grateful for my challenging life experiences from which I learn and grow the most!

Ok - now it's your turn! Come back often and add to the list as you think of more!
Penelope

Mark & Laura Anderson said...

I am grateful for...

1. My healthy, active 83 year old parents.
2. My husband Mark and daughter Hannah.
3. The unconditional love and adoration of my dogs Fizzbo and Emmett
4. The Pileated Woodpecker that lives in our neighborhood.
5. Christmas lights

Anonymous said...

I am grateful for good health.

Anonymous said...

From Bettylou: I still find it miraculous and mindboggling just to experience being alive here in this world, seeing, hearing, feeling and interacting with all of it. Plus I can meet all kinds of others who also have physical bodies too, and get real-time feedback from them, such as their perspective on how it's going for them, etc, May I never forget having really been here, right now
. . . shh

Michael said...

I am grateful for

1. My health.
2. Having a job that I love and enjoy.
3. For being able to look at the ocean every day.
4. For the wonderful friends who love me and listen to me.
5. For the opportunity to grow and evolve.

Anonymous said...

being healthy / free from physical suffering

being able to comtemplate the universe

Unknown said...

I am grateful for..

1. being in good health

2. having a job that I love

3. having my great family around me

4. my wonderful husband

5. having a happy personality

Unknown said...

and also grateful for opportunities to meet new friends and make new lasting friendships

Penelope said...

Breathing!

Penelope said...

Today I am grateful for waking up with more energy than I usually do! Need it... busy day ahead!

Anonymous said...

I am grateful for my breath...

...and for my True Self which my breath helps illuminate.

Penelope said...

That is a beautiful addition to the list! Thank you!

Today I am adding Good Friends to my gratitude list!

Penelope said...

Sunday.... today was a good day for some specific things about the day....

I am grateful that my neighbor jump started my car battery today. I am also grateful the repair shop was open and had the correct battery for my car.

I am grateful that when my son appeared at the door holding his head saying, "Mom, I'm bleeding" that it wasn't too bad and his tetanus shot is up to date!

I am grateful that I've found a good sitter for the kids and that Mom got to go to an event today! Busy day... but lots to be grateful for!

Penelope said...

Today is easy....
So grateful for electricity and heat.... especially during a snow storm!

Anonymous said...

I am always grateful for my wonderful family - husband and children;
grateful I get to experience life thru my kids as they grow and change;
grateful for a healthy body and the ability to keep it that way;
grateful for my few dear friends;
grateful we have the ability to provide a nice home for our kids;
grateful I can work as I do;

Penelope said...

Thank you for your beautiful addition to the list!

Penelope said...

Each of us is unique and each has their own gifts and talents to bring to the world!

Risa said...

I'm grateful for my healthy, smart kids, my loving husband and house/car. And my incredible friends!
Thank you Peni for starting me on
this journey of spirtuality. It is keeping me sane (so far!). <3

Risa said...

I'm thankful for my healthy, smart kids, my loving husband and house/car. My incredible friends, too.
Thank you Peni for starting me on this journey of spirituality. It is keeping me sane (so far!) <3